West Suffolk

West Suffolk's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 170,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of West Suffolk increased by 11%, from almost 154,000 to 171,000.

The addition of about 17,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Suffolk was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Suffolk

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Suffolk increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 12% of people in West Suffolk are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and West Suffolk by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in West Suffolk

The number of people in West Suffolk that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 24,000 in 2001 to about 48,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 28% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Suffolk that described themselves as Christian remained close to 110,000 between the last two censuses (from 74% to 63% of the population). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 14,000 to about 13,000 (from 8.8% to 7.4%).

About 970 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 410 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in West Suffolk increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and West Suffolk by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Suffolk

The percentage of West Suffolk residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.3% to 6.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of West Suffolk residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in West Suffolk at a faster rate than in East Cambridgeshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with West Suffolk).

In West Suffolk, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 18% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby East Cambridgeshire increased from 9.0% to 13%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in West Suffolk remained close to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 67% to 63%.

Private renting in West Suffolk increased by 6.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Suffolk, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Suffolk working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in West Suffolk decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Suffolk, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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